An ephemeral moment
He wakes up and peers out his bedroom window. The sun is shining so clear and bright.
His heart pounds happily as he notices the wind. The trees down the road are bending and twisting, their pom pom branches rustling with leaves.
Addy is a scrawny, spirited little boy. His skinny legs hold up his body nimbly.聽 His arms are long and thin and his head and large blue eyes are still being grown into.
His baggy khaki green pants hang over his runners. He smiles as he pulls his favourite t-shirt over his head.
鈥淒ad, let鈥檚 go!鈥�
鈥淨uickly, I don鈥檛 wanna miss it,鈥� he shrieks down the hallway running into the garage.
鈥淪it down Addy, you need to eat your breakfast.鈥�
A father sees his son鈥檚 eye, intent on getting out of the house and into the windy world outside.
鈥淗ere,鈥� he hands Addy some toast.
鈥淛ust take this then and eat it on the way little one.鈥�
He smiles and rubs his son鈥檚 head,鈥�…and put your hat on.鈥�
The pair weave through the traffic and hit the beach carpark.
Addy jumps out of his seat and takes off into the parkland behind the sand dunes around the beach.
There is a sea of red in front of them. Addy is excited and waves to his little friend from the hospital ward, down the road from their place.
His friend is the same age as Addy, his hair is replaced with a shiny bald head and he waves and bekons Addy and the other kids into the grassland.
鈥淥kay guys, let鈥檚 unravel this thing and join in.鈥�
Addy鈥檚 Dad uncoils the twine and frame.
鈥淓asy boys, we don鈥檛 want to rip it.鈥�
The boys jump and dance on the spot, their excitement uncontained 鈥淵ou guys are so cute,鈥� Addy鈥檚 father says.
鈥淎ddy, you go first, I want to see it take off鈥� says the little friend, 鈥減lus I can鈥檛 run today.鈥�
Addy takes the twine out of his Dad鈥檚 extended hand and turns to his little mate.
鈥淵ou watch this, it鈥檚 gonna be so cool.鈥�
Addy takes off running.聽 Within seconds his red kite springs up from the grass and joins the other kites in the sky.
One hundred red kites dance in the sky, and the ground below is transformed into a collage of kaleidoscope patterns.
The children run and laugh and their sick little friends stare up into the sky… to hope.
info: The Red Kite Foundation is a children鈥檚 cancer charity that has been lovingly supported by a talented and generous artist known as Addis.
Addis has made 100 cast bronze sculptures of the spirit of a young boy with a kite for this special cause.聽 Contact cwmgalleries for more information or you can donate at Red Kite Foundation, www.redkite.org.au
You are amazing! This brought me to tears realising how lucky I am to have healthy children.
Your way with words is amazing!
Dig deep to a wonderful cause
xxx
Dear Daddy dearest
Wow. Gorgeous and moving piece.
Whilst not everyone in the world has children…I think we all understand the beauty and innocence little ones bring to our various lives. And for this I thank you for reminding us of those who are not perfect – in the sense that nature/creation God if you will has inflicted these innocent souls with a disease … Whilst this is my personal view and product of my upbringing I think we all have to dig deep to do everything we can to take responsibility so donate through redkite foundation or any other children’s charity as you choose. x
At last a charity actually DOING something to help others. Well written.